How to crochet Front and back post double crochet stitches (UK Raised sts)

If you’re not familiar with post stitches, you have probably wondered how on earth those clever cable-work crochet patterns are made.

Back and Front Post crochet stitches (UK raised front / back stitches) are responsible for a whole lot of textured crochet goodness, so today we’re going to focus on what you can create with them and how to crochet them!

What is a post stitch?

A front or back post crochet stitch is, in it’s simplest form, a traditional crochet stitch which is worked around the vertical post of a stitch instead of into the top loops.

Front post stitches are worked so the post sits in front of the hook and back post are worked so the post is behind the hook (as explained further in the how-to below).

Post stitches can be worked with any of the traditional crochet stitches; single crochet, half double, double, treble and taller too. It’s all about where you work the stitch rather than the stitch itself.

A front post stitch will push the stitch you are working around towards you as you work, whereas a back post stitch will push it away from you.

What are post stitches used for?

Post stitches create amazing texture in your fabric. They can be used to create a variety of patterns and are common in many stitch patterns such as the alpine stitch, basket weave or waffle stitches.

Whenever you see cable work in crochet, the chances are that they are using post stitches. This is why post stitches are sometimes referred to as cables.

Take for example the Southern Pines Sweater (or Falling Pines Poncho which it was based on) and the So What Sweater. Both use post stitches, though they achieve different looks!

The third common use of post stitches is to create a rib effect on cuffs or hems. I use the term effect because they don’t tend to provide functional stretch, they are purely decorative. You can learn more about ribbing techniques here.

How do you crochet cable stitches?

Below you will find video tutorials for the front and back post double crochet stitches. That’s the UK Raised Treble Crochet Front and Raised Treble Crochet Back.

I have chosen to demonstrate post stitches using the double crochet because it is one of the most common ways to work post stitches.

The effect given by working around the post of a stitch can vary greatly depending on which traditional crochet stitch you are using – single crochet post stitches look fantastic and are well worth giving a try!

Front post double crochet – fpdc (UK Raised treble crochet Front – RtrF) tutorial

Yarn over, insert hook behind the post of the indicated stitch (from front to back, then back to front, so the post is in front of the hook), yarn over, pull up a loop around the post of the stitch, *yarn over, pull through two loops* twice.

The post will pull towards you as you work to create the cable effect.

If you are new to working post stitches, it is easier to see them worked in motion. Check out the right handed video tutorial below, or the left handed tutorial can be found here.

Back post double crochet – bpdc (UK Raised treble crochet Front – RtrB) tutorial

Yarn over, working from the back of the fabric, insert hook in front of the post of the stitch from the row below (from back to front, then front to back, so the post is at the back of the hook), yarn over, pull up a loop around the post of the stitch, *yarn over, pull through two loops* twice.

The post will pull away from you as you work.

Back post stitches can feel a bit more fiddly when you start them, so again, I recommend watching the video tutorial.

The right handed back post double crochet tutorial is below or you can watch the left handed version here.

Other types of post stitches

You can work all the other basic stitches around the front or back post. Below are the instructions for the front and back half double crochet (UK half treble) to give you an idea of how they work with other stitches.

Front Post half double crochet (fphdc)

Yo, insert hook behind the post of the stitch from the row below (from front to back, so the post is in front of the hook), yo pull up a loop, yo, pull through all three loops to complete the stitch. 

The post will pull towards you as you work to create the cable effect.

Back Post half double crochet (bpdc)

Yo, working from the back of the fabric, insert hook in front of the post of the stitch from the row below (from back to front, so the post is at the back of the hook), yo pull up a loop, yo, pull through all three loops to complete the stitch.

The post will pull away from you as you work.

Tips for crocheting post stitches

Once you get into the swing of working around the stitch instead of into the top of it, post stitches are pretty simple. Where they cause issues is when you combine them with traditional stitches. If you’re using any kind of pattern which uses ‘moving’ cables (i.e. cables which curve or twist), then you will need to know how to do this!

The Straight and Narrow Sweater is an example of this curving or moving cables. (This is a term I use – I’m not sure whether there’s a better official way of explaining this!)

The thing that catches people out here is keeping track of which stitch you have worked into and which post, and it all gets a bit messy! I have two tips to help you out here.

Firstly; on the first stitch of your row, make a note of whether the top loops of the first stitch sit to the right or left of the post of the same stitch. As it’s the first stitch, you won’t have another one before to confuse it with. This will change depending on whether you are working in rows or rounds (without turning) as well as whether you’re left or right handed.

When it comes to working into the stitch after you just worked a post, make sure you are working into the loops on the same side of the post as with that first stitch. Make sure you are consistent right the way across your row and you should avoid any trouble!

My second piece of advice, with front post stitches in particular, is to check the back of your work and make sure you skip the relevant number of stitches.

Say, for example you just worked 4 front post double crochet stitches in a row and you want to work a normal double crochet in the next stitch, but you’re not sure which the next stitch is. Have a look behind the post stitches. You will see the top loops of the stitches you just worked around. In this example, you just need to count the top of 4 stitches, skip them and work into the next stitch!

It’s way simpler than it sounds, you just need to make sure you’re paying a bit of attention. And check your work at the end of each row!

I hope you found this tutorial useful and are ready to explore all the wonders that post stitches have to offer!

Keep your eyes peeled for a new cable sweater pattern I have coming soon using front post trebles! Here’s a taster… (with a close up in the header!)

Happy Hooking

Dx